CHEYENNE, Wyo. – March 5, 2026 – Governor Mark Gordon and the Wyoming State Museum recognized 53 Wyoming artists at the 2026 Governor’s Capitol Art Exhibition awards reception on Thursday, Feb. 26. Three artists were presented with awards, each accompanied by a cash prize:

• Lynn Jones of Laramie received the Governor’s Choice Award for her piece, “The Snowy Range.”
• Georgia Rowswell of Cheyenne received the Juror’s Choice Award for her piece, “Where the Buffalo Roam Again.”
• Alexandra Hansen of Aladdin received the People’s Choice Award for her piece, “Walk the Line.”

Four works were also selected for the Capitol Art Collection Purchase Awards through votes cast by the statewide elected officials and agencies participating in the museum’s Capitol Art Program. These works will be displayed in public offices of state agencies and elected officials. Artists receiving purchase awards were:

• James Overstreet of Cheyenne, for his piece titled “Yellowstone Pool”
• Catherine Barnes of Cheyenne, for her piece titled “April, May and June” 
• Ella Bishop-Heil of Alcova, for her piece titled “Portrait of Two Horses” 
• Steve Knox of Cheyenne, for his piece titled “Lookin' for 2”

This year’s exhibit is featured as part of Wyoming's tribute to America's 250th anniversary. Artists were encouraged to submit entries that celebrate Wyoming’s breathtaking landscapes, vibrant communities, and the people who call our great state home. The exhibit showcases 62 works chosen from 383 entries submitted by 152 Wyoming artists. The selections were made by guest juror Kate Hlavin, Curator of the Coors Western Art Exhibit and Sale in Denver, Colorado.

Hlavin, in her remarks during the reception, shared that "reviewing the submissions for this exhibition was a privilege. The level of creativity represented was impressive, and the range of interpretations—from land and wildlife to people and community—was fascinating to experience.” She noted that each artist brought “a unique reason for loving Wyoming, and that individuality was evident in every submission. The works I selected resonated with me as thoughtful, compelling, and beautiful reflections of this place."

The Governor’s Capitol Art Exhibition was established in 2000 under an initiative by Governor Geringer and is organized by the Wyoming State Museum and the Wyoming Arts Council. The exhibition is the primary avenue for the state museum to acquire contemporary Wyoming art for its Capitol and permanent collections. In addition to the works selected for Purchase Awards and added to the Capitol Art Collection, the museum purchases additional works from the exhibition for its permanent collection, serving as a record of artists working in Wyoming today.

The Governor’s Capitol Art Exhibition will be on display until Aug. 8 in the Capitol Gallery. The Capitol is open to the public Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Works in the exhibition can also be viewed and purchased at bit.ly/4qwN3x1. 

Figure 1: Governor Mark Gordon and First Lady Jennie Gordon with Lynn Jones, recipient of the 2026 Governor’s Choice Award.

Figure 2: Juror Kate Hlavin and Georgia Rowswell, recipient of the 2026 Juror’s Choice Award.

Figure 3: Governor Mark Gordon and State Parks and Cultural Resources Director Dave Glenn with Alexandra Hansen, recipient of the 2026 People’s Choice Award.

Contact: Nathan Doerr, (307) 823-2935; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.